Families vent anger at driver during crash inquest

GARDAÍ at an inquest were forced to separate a young woman from the families of two talented sportsmen who died after she lost control of her car.

Theresa Dingivan had been driving on a provisional licence for just over two months when she lost control of her 1.5 litre Honda Civic on a country road in Cork on August 5, 2007.

Two of her back seat passengers, who hadn’t been wearing seat belts, were thrown from the car.

Michael Murphy, 22, who played GAA and soccer for clubs in his home village of Castlelyons, died instantly. His friend, James Sexton, 19, who played schoolboy soccer with the Republic of Ireland and was a member of the Cork City U-21 team, died a few minutes later.

At the inquest in Mallow, Patrick O’Riordan, solicitor, representing the families of the two men, questioned why Ms Dingivan, from Pearse Square, Fermoy, hadn’t apologised to the Murphy and Sexton families. Coroner Dr Michael Kennedy ruled such a question was not appropriate at an inquest.

The inquest was adjourned a short time later and during the interval Ms Dingivan was approached by TV3 for a comment. She said she was sorry for what happened and wished she could turn back the clock.

When the inquest resumed 15 minutes later, Mr O’Riordan informed the coroner what had happened.

Dr Kennedy said it would have been a different matter if Ms Dingivan had spoken to any witnesses during the recess, but he nevertheless thought her actions inappropriate.

After the jury returneda verdict of death by misadventure, Ms Dingivan’s mother, Denise, turned towards the grieving families and started to offer apologies for what had happened.

Some members of the distraught Murphy family started to shout her down and asked why it had taken so long for any apology to be issued. Michael Murphy’s mother, Mary, broke into tears and had to be comforted by relatives. The Sexton family remained silent.

At this stage gardaí moved in to ensure the families left the building separately. They first escorted the Dingivan family out and when they had left the area, the Murphy and Sexton families followed.

Last November, a jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court found Theresa Dingivan not guilty of dangerous driving causing death.